Smog, cough, cars, lost in Chinese, long yellow fingernails, dirty smelly streets and way too many people. On the first hand it may be reasonable to question why anyone would want to go back to this. Well, that is definitely not all there is to it. China is such a fascinating country and Shanghai is an amazing city. I can't wait to go back.

Compared to Copenhagen, London, New York, Melbourne living in China's most Westernized city is different. Being there reminds me that there is other ways to do things. Different ways to live life. You can compare it to that in the Western worlds we all walk, run, jump, stumble in the same direction. We may choose different paths BUT our direction is more-or-less the same. We admire, search for and compete for the same things. I always wanted a good career, a cool city apartment, a beautiful house, designer outfits, a new car, big city trips, success and wealth. I often visualized my life as a successful business woman in the world's metropolises and worked hard towards this life. Then China happened.

In China people literally walk forwards, backwards and sideways. They sit down in the middle of the street. They go fishing in the middle of the city in the middle of the day. They are super weird and the thought of it makes me smile. Everyday.